THE FISHING REPORT

BEST BETS

PACIFIC OCEAN

GOLDEN GATE: A few boats did manage to plow their way outside the Gate over the long weekend. Mostly on Sunday, when the ocean was somewhat at ease. That day: On a half-day trip, the New Easy Rider had 14 limits of Dungeness crab and 40 rockfish and the New Goldeneye had 10 limits of crab, 20 rockfish and one 5-pound ling, also on a half-day venture. Note: The weekend presents your last shot at rockfish for a while, as the season shuts down from March through April. Information: San Francisco: (415) 457-8388, (650) 965-3474, (415) 586-9800, (415) 892-2353, (415) 221-3825, (510) 352-5708; Sausalito: (415) 924-6851, (415) 332-1015; Berkeley: (510) 849-2727, (415) 752-5886; Emeryville: (510) 654-6040.

BODEGA BAY: Pickings are slim, fishing days scarce, and Rick Powers is on vacation. Just the same, the Predator out of Bodega Bay Sportfishing ran a charter Monday that produced 21 Dungeness crab, 356 rock crab and three-fourths limits of rockfish. Information: (707) 875-3495, (707) 878-2374, (707) 875-9686, (707) 875-3344.

PACIFICA: Friday and Saturday the ocean settled down sufficiently to allow for a decent shot at crab and perch. Since then, it's been back to its usual winter belligerence. Information: (650) 355-0690.

THE BAYS

SAN FRANCISCO: Everything is still over on the east side: the boats, the fish, the airport parking, etc. And Grand Street Bait in Alameda is sort of the hub of fishing activity. Roughing out the rain and wind, boats dropping anchor between A Buoy and the

SAN PABLO: "Absolutely stupendous, fantastic sturgeon fishing," said the local fishing types. Of course, that was last week. Since then, the wind and rain have sent everyone back to the bowling leagues and stamp collections. Still, a few things: All the rain and dirty water and the always significant "just because" factor mean someone is likely to drop an anchor at some of the spots below the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge; striped bass up to 20 pounds have been reported in the past few days by the few anglers actually trying for sturgeon, and the tides turn nice and low early next week. Information: San Rafael: (415) 456-0321; Sonoma: (707) 762-7818.

SUISUN: The main river is muddy and fast, and seems positively opposed to the idea of anyone getting in some fishing -- especially at the bottom of the tide, when the water turns toward sludge. Thus, many anglers are following guide Barry Canevaro's lead and heading for Montezuma Slough, where the flows are somewhat "cleaner." Canevaro has been averaging better than a sturgeon per day soaking pile worms in 25 feet of water between the Grizzly Island Bridge and bay. Some other areas: Honker Bay in 5 feet of water, and right above Roe and Ryer islands at the Gas Pipes. Over the weekend, Canevaro also had seven striped bass for four clients while fishing in the slough. Information: Pittsburg: (925) 458-4904; Martinez: (510) 223-5388; Crockett: (925) 787-1048.

THE DELTA: The Rio Vista area is pretty well blown out. All but one area, actually. And that's part of the beauty of fishing the delta: versatility. Or blind faith. Or nothing better to do. Anyway . . . Tucking back into Cache Slough, off the deep-water channel, anglers are taking some sturgeon on pile worms, grass shrimp and ghost shrimp. Also, way up at the Port of Sacramento (note: This is a tough spot to access), the relatively clear water has attracted striped bass. Information: Isleton: (916) 777-6806, (916) 777-6498; Rio Vista: (707) 374-2372.

THE LAKES

COLLINS: Well, yeah, the rain. Three weeks ago, the lake was 19 feet below spill level. Two weeks later, it was spilling over. And continues to do so. Still, the Department of Fish and Game is planting trout. Next week, the lake concessionaires begin their private trout-stocking program. In the meantime, anglers go to the shore with worms, chunks of mackerel, chicken liver, slaughterhouse scraps, whatever -- and lob the mess into the silty water for catfish up to nearly 12 pounds. The trout fishing should take off as the water clears. Information: (800) 286-0576.

SHASTA: It could be that more anglers are fishing. Or that conditions changed ever so slightly. Whatever the reason, the bass fishing has turned up several notches in the past week. The bass, mainly spotted, are in 5-15 feet of water, where anglers are throwing spinner, crank and rip baits. There are some largemouths being caught, as well, but they tend to be more scarce. The trout trollers are working the usual Cripplures and Hum Dingers on the surface. From shore, anglers are doing well tossing minnows and night crawlers in Sugar Loaf Inlet. Information: (530) 275-2278.

LEWISTON: For the fly fishers there's this lake, generally considered one of the top still-water fisheries around. Even though it's not exactly still water. Instead, there's a constant flow through the impoundment. Nonetheless, fly-fishing types throwing leech and midge patterns work hard for the occasional chunky trout. Information: (530) 623-6757.

OROVILLE: Fishing near the dam face and near the docks, the few anglers venturing out report catching a combo of bass and king salmon on anchovy fillets, and live and dead minnows.

SAN PABLO: The impoundment is murky, and the trout fishing is about nil. Very tough weekend for the masses. By Tuesday, the lake office sold passes to only seven anglers. But the few anglers who ventured out Tuesday and yesterday did manage some stringers of catfish, which tend to relish these conditions -- along with the generous glop of blood-mixed cornmeal, fermented chicken liver, reeking mackerel, etc. Something else: Two black bass over 7 pounds were hauled out of Scow Canyon over the weekend. Information: (510) 223-1661.

OTHER EAST BAY: It's just too muddy for fishing. A week or so of clear skies probably would turn things around.

THE RIVERS

SMITH/CHETCO: Rough day for guide Harvey Young. The hardest-working guide (qualification: only guy that bothered to call in) on the North Coast started the day on the Smith, which had come down to a steelheader's dream green overnight, and watched something like two steelhead hooked and landed between 20 boats. So he hauled out and brought his clients a few miles north to the Chetco. Drifting the upper river, they had two bright steelhead, including a 16-pound native hen that was released. As always, it's best to call head. Information: (541) 469-2422.

NORTH COAST: Your only chance is to try the Mad, where there always seems to be someone fishing in the winter -- no matter how muddy the flows. All the other steelheaders are heading north to the Smith or into southern Oregon. Information: (707) 442-1832.

TRINITY: Water conditions on the Trinity remain fair. The upper river, from Junction City to Lewiston, probably is the best bet. The steelhead mainly are adults, 4-8 pounds, and most anglers are tossing roe and night crawlers or pulling Wee Warts, or working Golden Stones (nymphs and dries) on a floating line. Information: (530) 623-6757.